| Awhile back you had a great idea. An idea | | | | needs? How do I checkout? Is there a return |
| that you thought could make you a decent | | | | policy? Is this business even credible (a |
| income, with very little effort. Then, you | | | | particularly challenging issue on the web)? |
| had another great idea-to sell your first | | | | If you aren't there to answer these |
| great idea on the Internet! What better way | | | | questions, the Internet most likely will |
| is there to market and sell your idea to the | | | | offer this consumer several other sites that |
| world, you thought. So, you bought a domain | | | | they can buy the same products from. Just |
| name, found a web host, and hired a | | | | like that, they're gone-and probably |
| high-priced web designer. Before you knew | | | | forever.At this point, you're probably |
| it, your new business was up and running on | | | | wondering what is top-notch customer service? |
| the web. With the help of a search engine | | | | The answer may surprise you. Many sites |
| optimization firm, your site shot to the top | | | | offer phone and email support. However, this |
| results of Google and Yahoo. Plus, you added | | | | is not the most effective support online. |
| an affiliate program, along with some other | | | | Phone support can be expensive, either for |
| marketing ventures. Soon, tons of targeted | | | | you or the customer. If you have an 800#, |
| traffic started flowing to your site...A | | | | you're paying for all the calls. Plus, you |
| couple of weeks went by and the euphoria of | | | | (or your staff), can only handle one call at |
| owning your own business on the web began to | | | | a time. If you don't have an 800#, your |
| wear off. Sure, your site looked great, your | | | | potential customer has to pay. Plus, the |
| product/service was the best, and you had | | | | customer may only have a dial-up connection. |
| tons of traffic hitting your site, but where | | | | So, they actually have to leave your website |
| was the income you expected? You'd made a | | | | to contact you (or use up their cell phone |
| few sales, but really you were expecting | | | | minutes). Your #1 goal is to NOT have |
| more-weren't you?Unfortunately, you're | | | | customers leave your website-even to call |
| business isn't starting off as the stunning | | | | you!Providing email support is equally |
| success you had hoped for. But, there's good | | | | ineffective. The reason is because the |
| news! You probably aren't that far off. | | | | customer never really knows if and when |
| This article will tell you the one aspect of | | | | you're going to get back to him/her. They |
| your online business that can help you | | | | may need a product sent today for next day |
| convert more sales than any other!One | | | | arrival. If so, they'll probably be hesitant |
| advantage that most business owners like | | | | to email you simply because they don't know |
| about the Internet is the opportunity it | | | | if you'll get back to them in an hour, a |
| provides for them to take a hands-off | | | | couple hours, a day, a week, or ever at all. |
| approach. Get a website up-and-running, come | | | | They'll go somewhere else where they can be |
| up with a marketing program, and you can make | | | | assured that the product will meet there |
| money even while you're sleeping-especially | | | | needs and can be shipped for arrival next |
| if you offer a service or software product. | | | | day. Email can be effective at times, but it |
| Internet businesses are great part-time or | | | | can cause concerns for the customer, and it |
| side businesses, because they can take as | | | | is ineffective when time is critical.So, what |
| much, or as little, time as you want to | | | | is the best way to provide online customer |
| devote to them.The problem is that while | | | | support? The answer is live chat. I know |
| spending a very small amount of time on your | | | | you're probably thinking that live chat is |
| Internet business is great for you as the | | | | time-consuming for you as the business owner. |
| business owner; it can be not-so-great for | | | | You don't want to sit in front of your |
| your customers and potential customers, thus | | | | computer all day, or hire someone else to, |
| limiting your sales potential. Think about | | | | just waiting for customers to chat with. |
| your product or service. Now, picture | | | | That is understandable. However, with most |
| setting up a brick-and-mortar location to run | | | | live chat software, your customers can leave |
| your business from. Would you buy or build | | | | a message if you're offline, and it at least |
| this building, set it up for business, and | | | | gives the impression to them that you care, |
| then leave it sitting there with the door | | | | and that customer service is important to |
| locked all of the time? Would you leave the | | | | you. So, even if you can only cover live |
| door unlocked so customers could come in and | | | | chat a couple hours a day, it is still worth |
| look around, but not have any staff available | | | | it! And, the more that you can cover live |
| to assist them? Would you leave the door | | | | chat, the more successful you will be.Live |
| unlocked so customers could come in and look | | | | chat provides an opportunity for your |
| around, setup a self-checkout aisle so they | | | | customers to have their questions and |
| can make purchases, install a security camera | | | | concerns handled immediately. Plus, talking |
| for safety, but still not have a single staff | | | | to you someone directly will ease their |
| member on hand to assist customers. | | | | concerns about the credibility of your |
| Hopefully, you answered 'no' to all of these | | | | business. You get to know your customers and |
| questions, and you probably found the ideas | | | | they get to know you. The chances of them |
| ridiculous. Yet, is this how your run your | | | | buying increase dramatically. The chances of |
| online business? Most websites let visitors | | | | them making repeat purchases from you also |
| look at products, and make secure purchases, | | | | increase, because you've developed a |
| but they don't offer assistance to the | | | | relationship with them. Plus it is |
| visitors. That is why providing customer | | | | affordable for you. Several live chat |
| service is the key to making an online | | | | systems are very affordable, and most allow |
| business successful. Buying and selling on | | | | reps to handle multiple chats at once, which |
| the Internet can be different than in | | | | is quicker and more effective than phone |
| brick-and-mortar locations, but in some ways | | | | support. All in all, live chat is a great |
| it is not that different. Customer Service | | | | customer service solution for both the |
| is one of those ways. Customers want to be | | | | business owner and the consumer.By making |
| treated a certain way before most will buy | | | | customer service a priority on your website, |
| your products and services, regardless of | | | | and utilizing live chat software, that great |
| whether or not you are selling them from a | | | | idea you had awhile back will really reach |
| building or a website.If you provide | | | | its potential.Please feel free to reprint |
| top-notch customer service on your website, | | | | this article so long as you include the |
| the same way you would if you had setup a | | | | resource box listed with the article.Dan |
| brick-and-mortar location, you will take your | | | | Cavanaugh is the Senior Marketing Director |
| business profits to the next level. Will it | | | | for the Customer Support Network, an |
| take a little more of your time and | | | | organization committed to the improvement of |
| attention? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.You | | | | online customer service. The Customer |
| see, visitors come to your site because they | | | | Support Network has developed a powerful and |
| are interested in what you have to offer. | | | | affordable live chat product called CSLive SB |
| But, they also have questions and concerns | | | | 2005. |
| before they buy. Will this product meet my | | | | |